Faculty & Staff

About our dedicated team

The NCCC staff shares dozens of years of combined experience providing HIV education, consultation, and care. The consultants providing your peer-to-peer advice are practicing clinicians and professors of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. They include renowned national experts in HIV medicine and clinicians who have been involved in HIV care since the beginning of the epidemic.

Our consultants are supported by a knowledgeable administrative team that is dedicated to providing leadership, quality, and accessibility in HIV management and education. Many of our administrative staff members are nearing or have surpassed a decade of service at the Center.

Photograph of Carolyn Chu, M.D.

With significant challenges arising for an evolving HIV provider workforce, it is our hope that the NCCC is an effective and practical resource for point-of-care clinical knowledge and decision support.

Carolyn Chu, MD, MSc FAAFP, AAHIVS

Principal Investigator
Professor of Clinical Family Community Medicine

carolyn.chu@ucsf.edu
Carolyn Chu is an AAHIVM-credentialed HIV Specialist who completed her family medicine residency and a clinical research fellowship in HIV at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. Prior to joining the NCCC, she served as a medical director at a large network of federally-qualified health centers in Manhattan, where she helped lead quality improvement activities for its multi-disciplinary HIV services program. She has significant experience as a clinician educator on HIV management and has researched the integration and effectiveness of HIV medical care within community-based and primary care settings. Her clinical work is at the SFGH Family Health Center.


Photograph of Ronald Goldschmidt, MD

It’s wonderful to be able to help clinicians regardless of the extent of their experience with HIV—in providing the best possible care for their patients.

Ronald Goldschmidt, MD

Senior Program Advisor/Founding Director
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Ron Goldschmidt is a seasoned family practitioner whose current clinical work is at San Francisco General Hospital. He attends on the Family Medicine Inpatient Service and cares for adults and children in the Family Health Center. Dr. Goldschmidt received the 2005 Kaiser Award for Excellence in teaching from UCSF. He has served as member of national advisory and review committees for HRSA, AMA, and AAFP and has published some 100 original articles and editorials in medical literature, principally on the primary care of HIV.


Photograph of Brenda Goldhammer, M.P.H.

Knowing we are all part of something that has real impact on our communities and on patients is the essence of public health and a very rewarding aspect of our work. It’s an honor to work with such a dedicated team of clinicians and staff.

Brenda Goldhammer, MPH

Program Director

goldhammerb@nccc.ucsf.edu
Brenda Goldhammer has been working in the HIV/AIDS field for more than 25 years. She received her MPH in 2000 from the University of California at Los Angeles, where she was awarded the Improving Public Health in Southern California Fellowship for her work with social service providers serving people who are unhoused and the University Fellowship for academic excellence. As Program Director for the NCCC, she provides operational and strategic leadership including overseeing the program’s technological and infrastructure improvements. She oversees the operational budget, marketing strategic directions as well as staff management and development. She also manages collaborative partnerships and public relations at the local, regional, national and international level.


Chris Bositis, MD, AAHIVS

Chris Bositis, MD, AAHIVS

Clinical Director
Clinical Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine

chris.bositis@ucsf.edu
Chris Bositis, MD is Clinical Director for the NCCC, and a family physician experienced in working with communities that have suffered disproportionately from the overlapping infectious disease and opioid syndemic. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Medicine and did his family medicine residency at Brown University/Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. Prior to joining the NCCC, he worked at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center in Lawrence, MA, where he played a key role in the development and implementation of novel programs such as a mobile buprenorphine program for individuals experiencing homelessness.


Photograph of Hoa Su, MPH

Hoa Su, MPH

Program Manager

hoa.su@ucsf.edu
Hoa Su manages the administrative staff and oversees the program’s operations, infrastructure and budget. Since joining the team, he has contributed to the development of the strategic plan to advance the work of the NCCC. He has over 23 years of experience developing, managing and evaluating health promotion programs including in HIV/AIDS for diverse communities. He received his Master of Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles.


Photograph of Roja Ayyagary

Roja Ayyagary

Salesforce Administrator

Roja Ayyagary works with the Business Solutions Architect to support the ongoing development of our Salesforce deployment. She is responsible for executing day-to-day configuration, support, maintenance and improvement of our CRM platform.


Photograph of Nacia Bambilla

Nacia Bambilla

Hotline Triage Coordinator

Nacia Bambilla is the primary liaison between callers and clinicians. She triages NCCC teleconsultation services and registers callers during business hours. She supports data integrity through review, consolidation, and standardization of client information.


Photograph of Ellen Chadwick, MD

Ellen Chadwick, MD

Pediatric Specialist Consultant

Ellen Chadwick provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and specialty consultation to NCCC clinicians on management of pediatric HIV.


Photograph of Diana Clarke, PharmD

Diana Clarke, PharmD

Specialty Pediatric Pharmacist

Diana Clarke, PharmD, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in Infectious Diseases at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and Pediatric HIV Pharmacotherapy Specialist at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Clarke has extensive experience in the management of children and pregnant patients living with HIV. Her research interests include neonatal pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral agents and pharmacokinetics of anti-infectives in pregnant patients. She is a consultant for the Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau and for DHHS’s Pediatric and Perinatal HIV Guidelines, and a member of the WHO Pediatric Antiretroviral Working Group.


Photograph of Deborah Cohan, MD, MPH

Deborah Cohan, MD, MPH

Perinatal Specialist
Professor of Medicine

Deborah Cohan provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on perinatal HIV management. She is Medical Director of HIVE (formerly Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center) and provides preconception, prenatal and gynecologic care for HIV-infected women and HIV-uninfected women in sero-different relationships. Dr. Cohan was a member of the DHHS Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents and the DHHS Panel on Treatment of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission. She was also a co-author of the DHHS Guidelines on the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents.


Photograph of Triveni Defries, MD

Triveni Defries, MD

Substance Use Specialist
Assistant Professor

Triveni Defries provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on HIV and substance use management.


Photograph of Betty Dong, MD

Betty Dong, PharmD

Pharmacy Director, Hepatitis C Warmline
Professor of Clinical Pharmacy

Betty Dong provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV, perinatal HIV and hepatitis C management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of James J. Gasper, PharmD, BCPP

James J. Gasper, PharmD, BCPP

Addiction Medicine Consultant

James Gasper provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on substance use evaluation and management. He received his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Colorado and completed his psychiatric pharmacy residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Gasper has spent the last 18 years developing, implementing, and working in substance use disorder treatment and specialty mental health with an emphasis on opioid use disorder, methamphetamine addiction, and co-occurring disorders.


Photograph of Linda Gorgos, MD, MSc, FIDSA

Linda Gorgos, MD, MSc, FIDSA

Clinician Consultant

Linda Gorgos is an Infectious Disease Specialist who has served as a site principal investigator for multiple clinical trials, including HIV treatment, HIV prevention, hepatitis C treatment, and vaccines to prevent infectious diseases. She completed her medical education at Johns Hopkins, followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. She completed a fellowship in Infectious Diseases with the University of Washington, a Master of Science in Control of Infectious Disease from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a postdoctoral fellowship in STD prevention with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is currently the Medical Director/Principal Investigator at AXCES Research Group in Santa Fe, New Mexico.


Photograph of Cristina Gruta, PharmD, AAHIVP

Cristina Gruta, PharmD, AAHIVP

Clinician Consultant

Cristina Gruta is a clinical pharmacist specializing in HIV and hepatitis C pharmacotherapy. She is a senior consultant for the NCCC’s HIV Warmline, Perinatal HIV Hotline, Hepatitis C line, PEPline, and PrEPline. She plays an integral part in the NCCC internal clinician consultant training program and mentors new clinicians with a focus on best consultation practices. Clinically, Dr. Gruta cares for persons living with and at-risk for HIV at the University of California, San Francisco 360 Wellness Center. She obtained her PharmD at University of California, San Francisco and did residencies in pharmacy practice and HIV/AIDS.


Photograph of Astha Kanani, MD

Astha Kanani, MD

Clinician Consultant

Astha Kanani is an Internal Medicine Physician that provides expert HIV consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV and perinatal HIV management, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and bloodborne pathogen exposure management. She started her training the Montefiore’s Social Medicine Internal Medicine Residency program in NY and finished at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. Her heart in medicine lies with a social justice lens and trauma informed care. Her consultations often involve an equity lens and a patient centered approach to care. Clinically, she is a per diem provider at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, CA.


Photograph of Judy Levison MD, MPH

Judy Levison MD, MPH

Perinatal HIV Specialist

Judy Levison provides specialty consultation to NCCC clinicians on perinatal HIV management. Dr. Levison is also the physician coordinator of the Harris Health System Women’s Program, which provides care for pregnant individuals living with HIV in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the DHHS Panel on Treatment of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Prevention of Perinatal HIV Transmission, which provides annual updated recommendations for the care of pregnant persons in the United States.


Photograph of Erin R Lutes, MS, RN, PHN, CNS

Erin R Lutes, MS, RN, PHN, CNS

Clinician Consultant

Erin Lutes is a Clinical Nurse Specialist with a specialty in public health and HIV. She has provided expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management since 2014 and has a special interest in reducing harm and stigma related to HIV and substance use. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco Master’s Entry Program in Nursing and Master of Science program.

Photograph of Cindy Mackey

Cindy Mackey

Scheduler
Continuous Quality Improvement Coordinator

Cindy Mackey ensure adequate scheduling across all call lines. She also supports the NCCC’s quality improvement activities.

Photograph of Rebecca Martinez, MS, NP

Rebecca Martinez, MS, NP

Clinician Consultant

Rebecca Martinez provides expert HIV consultation and education to NCCC callers on pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.

Photograph of Cara McAnaney, MD

Cara McAnaney, MD

Clinician Consultant

Cara McAnaney provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV, perinatal HIV and hepatitis C management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Kevin Miles, MS, NP

Kevin Miles, MS, NP

Clinician Consultant

Kevin Miles provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on HIV, perinatal HIV and hepatitis C management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Daniel Moring-Parris, MD

Daniel Moring-Parris, MD, AAHIVS

Clinician Consultant

Daniel Moring-Parris provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV, perinatal HIV and hepatitis C management, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and bloodborne pathogen exposure management. He started his training at the University at Buffalo Medical School and completed his Family Medicine residency at the Stanford-O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, California. He currently provides full spectrum primary and HIV specialty care in Contra Costa County, where he is the lead HIV clinician and faculty at the Contra Costa Family Medicine Residency.

Patricia Myung, MD

Clinician Consultant

Patty Myung provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.

Tenja Overton

Program Assistant

Tenja Overton started with the NCCC in January of 2004 and serves as the Center’s Project Coordinator. Tenja helps coordinate marketing, purchasing, travel, and other Center activities. Tenja also distributes the Center’s literature to affiliates and stakeholders and manages the conference and events calendar.

Photograph of April Nakayoshi, MPH, CHES

April Nakayoshi, MPH, CHES

Data Manager and Evaluator

April Nakayoshi designs and develops program evaluation tools for the NCCC and is responsible for the quality of data collected, maintained and analyzed. She was previously Vice President of Programs and Evaluation at Prevent Blindness Northern California. April received her Master of Public Health from Walden University.


Photograph of Christine Pecci, MD

Christine Pecci, MD

Clinician Consultant
Clinical Professor

Christine Pecci provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on perinatal HIV management. She is in a Clinical Professor in the Dept of Family and Community Medicine. She received her MD from Michigan, completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University and is Fellowship trained in perinatal care. Practices outpatient and inpatient care at SFGH.


Photograph of Lealah Pollock, MD, MS

Lealah Pollock, MD, MS

Clinician Consultant
Associate Professor

Lealah Pollock provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on perinatal HIV management, general HIV management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management. She is a family physician and HIV specialist with a particular interest in sexual and reproductive health for women and birthing people living with HIV. She’s the Director of Women and Children’s Consultation Services at the NCCC. She also provides full spectrum primary care in the Women’s HIV Program at UCSF and teaches residents in the UCSF/SFGH Family and Community Medicine Residency Program.


Photograph of Lisa Rahangdale, MD

Lisa Rahangdale, MD

Perinatal Specialist

Lisa Rahangdale provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on perinatal HIV management.


Photograph of Matt Reynolds, NP

Matt Reynolds, NP

Clinician Consultant

Matt Reynolds provides expert HIV consultation and education to NCCC callers on bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Jesse Ristau, MD

Jesse Ristau, MD

Substance Use Specialist
Assistant Professor

Jesse Ristau provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on HIV and substance use management.


Photograph of Janeen Rojas, MS, NP

Janeen Rojas, MS, NP

Clinician Consultant

Janeen Rojas provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on HIV, perinatal HIV and hepatitis C management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Ted Ruel, MD

Ted Ruel, MD

Pediatric HIV Specialist
Professor

Ted Ruel provides specialty consultation to NCCC clinicians on pediatric HIV management. Dr. Ruel is a Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health at the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospitals where he cares for children living with and exposed to HIV in the San Francisco Bay Area. He consults to the World Health Organization about pediatric HIV treatment and is co-chair of the Panel on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of Children Living with HIV for the National Institutes of Health.


Photograph of Parya Saberi, PharmD, MAS, MFA, AAHIVP

Parya Saberi, PharmD, MAS, MFA, AAHIVP

Clinician Consultant
Associate Professor

Parya Saberi is a clinical pharmacist who provides expert clinical consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen management. She is also an Associate Professor in the University of California, San Francisco’s Division of Prevention Science where she conducts clinical and behavioral research regarding HIV treatment and prevention with a focus on youth and young adults living with HIV.


Photograph of Tony Sayegh, MS, RN, FNP-C, AAHIVS

Tony Sayegh, MS, RN, FNP-C, AAHIVS

Clinician Consultant

Tony Sayegh provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on HIV prevention, management and treatment. Tony is a University of California, San Francisco trained family nurse practitioner since 2012, maintaining an AAHIVM credential as an HIV Specialist since 2016. His career has included work in PrEP research, provision, and protocol development and implementation in addition to HIV/AIDS clinical management and infectious diseases clinical research.


Photograph of Lauren Stupar

Lauren Stupar

Salesforce Business Solutions Architect

Lauren Stupar plays a critical role identifying and implementing business solutions related to the NCCC’s data collection and database.


Photograph of Michele Tana, MD, MHS

Michele Tana, MD, MHS

Hepatitis Specialist
Associate Professor

Michele Tana provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on hepatitis B and C management. She is the Director of the Gastroenterology Rotation in the UCSF General Surgery Residency Program. She also conducts clinical and translational research in autoimmune hepatitis and is a Principal Investigator of the POSULD Study.


Photograph of Eric Tang, MD

Eric Tang, MD

Clinician Consultant

Eric Tang provides expert HIV consultation and education to NCCC callers on bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Mishka Terplan MD, MPH

Mishka Terplan MD, MPH

Addiction Medicine Consultant

Mishka Terplan provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers on substance use evaluation and management. He is a physician boarded in both obstetrics & gynecology and addiction medicine. Dr. Terplan is the Medical Director and Senior Research Scientist at the Friends Research Institute.


Photograph of Jason Tokumoto, M.D.

Jason Tokumoto, MD

Clinician Consultant

Jason Tokumoto provides expert consultation and education to NCCC callers and online service users on HIV, perinatal HIV and hepatitis C management, pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Jonathan Van Nuys, MS, NP

Jonathan Van Nuys, MS, NP

Addiction Medicine Consultant

Jonathan Van Nuys provides expert HIV consultation and education to NCCC callers on pre-exposure prophylaxis and bloodborne pathogen exposure management.


Photograph of Sam Zakkour, PharmD

Sam Zakkour, PharmD

Clinician Consultant

Sam Zakkour provides expert HIV consultation and education to NCCC callers on bloodborne pathogen exposure management.